Virtual Ride of Kettle Ridge Trail

“
Tight switchbacks and interesting terrain make for an epic descent.”

Description

The Kettle Ridge Trail leaves north from the Cranmore Trail (unmarked). It heads northwest along the ridge for a couple hundred yards then drops off the ridge at a rock feature and makes several short switchbacks over rock features and slabs. This is the start of an almost 1000 foot descent! As the slope gets steeper, the trail slabs across the slope and the switchbacks become longer. The track is narrow and rooty and this section is treacherous if wet since it is easy to get knocked off your line by the roots.

The trail leaves the open forest and drops into a recently logged section with dense new growth. Although it's no longer traversing across the slope, the trail surface is extremely rough and rooty with lots of short ups and downs with tight turns. The trail crosses a couple rocky areas, the woods open up and the trail becomes flatter. This section offers a good break from technical riding of the upper section and the more difficult conditions coming on the lower third of the ride.

The trail leaves the flat section, crossing several open slabs and rock features. The slope steepens and the trail makes a number of long traverses and with many switchbacks some of which are extremely tight. This may be the most difficult section of the trail.

The Kettle Ridge Trail intersects the Red Trail Trail at the water tank and ends. Take the gravel road a couple hundred yards down to Hurricane Mountain Road.

The Kettle Ridge Trail is also a great climb and makes a fantastic loop in combination with the Red Tail Trail. Although it's an easier climb than the Red Tail Trail, not many riders complete it without taking a couple of breaks on the way up! The start at the bottom is not signed and may be a little hard to find. From Hurricane Mountain Road, ride up the gravel road past the water tank and Red Trail Trail sign on the left, continue about 20 yards on the road which becomes mostly grass as it enters a small field and look on the left for the trail start.